Central America

Thousands affected in Honduras and Guatemala after heavy rains

Photo: regionmas

November 7 |

More than 42,000 people are affected in Honduras and around 26,000 in Guatemala after heavy rains hit those territories.

Seven Honduran departments are still under yellow alert and, according to the Secretariat of State in the Offices of Risk Management and National Contingencies (Copeco), the rains will continue in several regions of the country due to a wedge of high pressure and the entry of moisture from the Caribbean.

In this sense, thunderstorms with electrical activity are expected in central, southern, northern, western and southwestern regions, due to the convergence of wind and humidity from the Pacific.

As a result of this situation, rescue teams had to evacuate a group of families the day before in the city of Puerto Cortés (north) due to flooding.

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On the other hand, in Guatemala, the extensive rains reported throughout the week have caused road blockages, landslides, sinkholes and overflowing of large rivers, such as the Chixoy, in Alta Verapaz and Quiché (center).

According to the latest report of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), the rainy season in this country has already left 58 dead and almost four million people affected from the end of April until last Friday.

Due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which causes heavy rainfall, floods and droughts, this nation warned mainly the eastern departments, such as El Progreso, Chiquimula, Zacapa, Jutiapa and Chimaltenango and part of this capital.

Related Topics:Central America El Salvador Honduras Rains

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.